What is Materials Science?

What is Materials Science?

We’re living in a material world – and Corning scientists are at the forefront of innovating things that matter.

Materials science is a broad field of study exploring the vast potential of solid matter in a boundless array of applications.

By bringing together various scientific disciplines like chemistry, biology, and physics, materials scientists delve into the world of solid matter at the molecular level. They seek to understand the complex inner structure of a material; its various properties; how processing can change it; and what it can do.

The creativity, curiosity, technical knowledge, and persistence of materials scientists has resulted in more life-changing innovations than most of us can imagine. Powerful semiconductors, artificial joints, housing to withstand the stormiest weather – all these are the innovative work of materials scientists and their teams in the lab.

At Corning, the material of glass has captured our imagination since 1851. We’ve expanded that knowledge to include ceramics and polymers, and in so doing have become one of the world’s leading materials science innovators.

Our materials science discoveries have changed the way people communicate, learn, and enjoy life; they’ve cleaned the air and enabled new medicines. Each generation builds on the knowledge of those who have come before – and with each new discovery, more doors open, making the life-enhancing applications nearly limitless.

Unparalleled Materials Expertise

What is specialty glass?

What is specialty glass?

First created as early as 2000 B.C. in the form of decorative beads, glass has long been the standard material for containers, windows, and other essential items in daily life. The vast majority of glass produced in the world remains in this category – mostly from similar soda-lime compositions with a focus on low-cost mass production.

First created as early as 2000 B.C. in the form of decorative beads, glass has long been the standard material for containers, windows, and other essential items in daily life. The vast majority of glass produced in the world remains in this category – mostly from similar soda-lime compositions with a focus on low-cost mass production.

What are ceramic materials?

What are ceramic materials?

Ceramics might be thought of as the close cousin of glass. Both materials are inorganic, non-porous, with hard, smooth surfaces. With the right composition and forming process, both can be extremely hard and resistant to thermal shock, suitable for use in harsh environments like outer space.

Ceramics might be thought of as the close cousin of glass. Both materials are inorganic, non-porous, with hard, smooth surfaces. With the right composition and forming process, both can be extremely hard and resistant to thermal shock, suitable for use in harsh environments like outer space.

What is optical physics?

What is optical physics?

Optical physics is the study of light and its interaction with matter. This scientific field has a natural pairing with glass technology since the successful performance of so many specialty glass applications – optical fiber, display panels, semiconductor systems, and some drug-development tools, to name just a few – depend on the way they transmit, process, or manipulate light. And different glass compositions and forms will interact with light in different ways.

Optical physics is the study of light and its interaction with matter. This scientific field has a natural pairing with glass technology since the successful performance of so many specialty glass applications – optical fiber, display panels, semiconductor systems, and some drug-development tools, to name just a few – depend on the way they transmit, process, or manipulate light. And different glass compositions and forms will interact with light in different ways.